Display package for stretch socks



Dec. 20, 1960 H. B. CAULFIELD DISPLAY PACKAGE FOR STRETCH socxs 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 31, 1957 mmwwm nu u n n u umlmmwl INVENTOR.fis lva o C4 (/4 H540 BY W rm n w m Dec. 20, 1960 H. B. CAULFIELDDISPLAY PACKAGE FOR STRETCH socKs 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 31, 1957INVENTOR. fl BfP/YflfO 0404/1520 ngv-apvsrs United States Patent lDISPLAY PACKAGE FOR STRETCH SOCKS Harding Bernard Caulfield, Marietta,Ga., assignor to Kayser-Roth Corporation, a corporation of New YorkFiled Jan. 31, 1957, Ser. No. 637,445

4 Claims. (Cl. 206--78) The present invention relates to a novel packagefor hosiery, and in particular, for hosiery of a type known as stretchsocks and provides an economical yet highly attractive display package.

Stretch socks are made of yarn that has the property of being highlystretchable. Socks made of such yarn fit foot sizes within wide limits.Stretch socks have many desirable characteristics, and there is a largedemand for same in the market. As with the conventional sock, thehosiery manufacturer desires to package stretch socks for transportationand retail display in convenient, economical and attractive packages.Packaging of stretch socks has presented certain problems. The elasticnature of the yarn of which the sock is made causes the socks tocontract circumferentially and lengthwise. Stretch socks intended foradults contract so much that they look like socks for small children.Stretch socks provide many problems. When stretch socks are displayedfor sale in unstretched condition, the socks have a tendency to puckeror roll and create an unattractive appearance. Designs on a sock aredistorted by such shrinking" and thus create an untidy appearance andconsequently discourage sales. In addition, the contracted socks appearso small that people looking for socks for an adult are apt to pass themup thinking that the socks are for children. Moreover, hosierymanufacturers desire to standardize shipping boxes, top stickers, bandsand labels. When the stretch socks are shipped and displayed inunstretched condition, the hosiery manufacturer is not able to make useof the boxes, stickers, bands he otherwise uses for his standard socks.This requires additional inventories of boxes, tickets, bands and thusincrease his costs.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of the instant invention toprovide novel apparatus for packaging socks and, in particular, stretchsocks, sothat they present an attractive appearance on a counter, in awindow or showcase of a shop. In addition, the display apparatus isprovided with cut out windows which allow the customer to test thequality of the sock material.

; It is a further object of the invention to package stretch socks insuch a way that their size corresponds approximately to the size of theconventional socks to which the public is accustomed. Thus, whenpackaged in accordance with the invention, stretch socks intended formen have a mans size instead of looking like childrens socks. Theinvention further provides an attractive display package in whichstretch socks are held flat, smooth and the designs on the socks arepresented in proper size and proportions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a convenient andeconomical method of packaging stretch socks in an attractive mannerwhich increases their saleability and, at the same time, makes the socksmore convenient to handle.

, It is a further object of the instant invention to provide a noveldisplay package for .stretch sock hosiery; The package is made up ofthree'sheet like'panls pref 2,965,227 Patented Dec. 20, .1950

erably of cardboard material. These panels include a main leg panel anda foot panel which are connected to each other along a transverse foldline. In addition, there is also provided an auxiliary leg panel. Onesock of a pair is circumferentially mounted in stretched condition onthe main leg panel and the foot panel together, with the foot panelextending into the foot of the sock and with the leg panel positionedwithin the leg portion of the sock and extending to the open topthereof. The auxiliary leg form and the other sock of the pair aresuspended within the leg of the stretch sock in flat superposedrelationship along-side the main leg panel with the second sockinterposed between the two leg panels. The forms have smooth faces tofacilitate slidable assemblage of the package. Ultimately, the packageis folded along the fold line between the main leg panel and the footpanel. Stickers and bands are used to secure the package in a smoothlongitudinal assemblage.

The package, in accordance with the instant invention, displays thesocks in smooth and flat relationship, and thus increases greatly thesaleability of socks of this character. The display package displays thesocks in a manner so that they look like conventional socks in respectto their size. Furthermore, the three panels are provided with cut-outwindows. The Windows are disposed on respective panels so that they arein overlying relationship when the package is completely assembled andfolded. This provides the assembled package with a region void of sheetmaterial of which the panels are made. The stretch sock extendscircumferentially over the windows, the second sock is suspendedtherebetween. By running ones fingers along the sock material over theregion of the windows, the consumer is able to test the texture of thesocks between his fingers. Thus, the consumer is given the opportunityto judge the quality of the sock material.

In a first embodiment of the invention, the auxiliary leg panel isseparate from the other two panels and is superposed, together with thesecond sock, upon the main leg panel prior to stretching the first sockover the main leg panel and the foot panel and prior to folding of thesetwo panels. In a second embodiment of the invention, the auxiliary legpanel is connected to the main leg panel along a transverse fold line,so that the three panels are unitary.

Forms made in accordance with the instant invention use a minimum ofcardboard material. The windows further reduce the weight of thepackage. A light-weight, less bulky package provides the hosierymanufacturer with certain desirable economies. The cost of the displaypackage is reduced. The costs to ship the display packages from themanufacturer to the retailer are minimized; and, in addition, theinvention permits the manufacturer to use standardized sock boxes,stickers, and bands.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the figures in which' Fig. l is aface elevation of a display package completely assembled for counterdisplay and shows the outer stretched sock longitudinally mounted infolded, flat relationship; and also shows a top sticker and lower bandmaintaining the package in smooth, neat as semblage;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a right-side elevation of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the display package taken along line44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 shows the stretched sock mounted on the main leg panel and thefoot panel prior to folding of same; Fig. 6'shows in dash lines ,thefolded sock suspended between the main leg panel and the auxiliary legpanel; atthe lower end, Fig. 6 shows the other sock of the pair about tobe mounted upon the main leg panel and the foot panel, prior to foldingof the latter;

Fig. 7 shows the one sock of the pair in folded position prior tosuspending same between the panels, as shown in dashed outline in Fig.6;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal elevation, partly cut off, of the main legpanel and the foot panel; this figure shows the cut-out window in themain leg panel, whereas, Fig. 6 shows the windows in the other panels. 3

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 9-13.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal elevation of the unitary form used inassembling the hosiery display package in accordance with thisembodiment, showing the auxiliary leg panel connected to the main legpanel along a transverse fold line;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 6, and shows in dash lines the foldedsock suspended between the main leg panel and the auxiliary leg panel;at the lower end Fig. 10 shows the other sock of the pair about to bemounted upon the main leg panel and the foot panel, prior to folding ofthe latter;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 5, and shows the stretched sockmounted upon the main leg panel and the foot panel prior to foldingsame;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 2, and is a rear elevation of thedisplay package completely assembled for counter display; and

Fig. 13 is a section on line 13-13 of Fig. 12.

Display package 20 is made up of a pair of stretch socks 23 and 24, twoforms 21 and 22, a top sticker 25 and band 26. The forms are made offiat cardboard or other suitable thin, relatively stiif, smooth sheetmaterial. Form 21 comprises a main leg panel 29 and a foot panel 33,which are connected together along a transverse scored fold line 34.Sock 23 is stretched widthwise and lengthwise on main leg portion 29 andfoot panel 33, with foot panel 33 extending into the foot portion ofsock 23 and with main leg panel 29 extending into the leg :portion ofthe sock and to the open end thereof. Form 22 and the folded second sock24 are also positioned within the leg portion of sock 23, in superposedrelationship to the main leg panel 29. Hence, form 22'may be consideredas an auxiliary leg panel. While the auxiliary form or leg panel 22-isshown in this embodiment as separate from form 21,'it will be apparentfrom the second embodiment that form 22 may be connected to main legportion 29 along a transverse fold line, forming a single unitary forminstead of the two separate forms 21 and 22.

In the complete assembly, foot panel 33 is folded upon fold line 34 tobring it into superposedrel ationship with the other two panels, and theentire assembly is secured together by the aforesaid top sticker 25 andband 26.

Main leg panel 29 is substantially rectangular in shape and has sideedges 27, 28 which are substantially parallelto each other. The topportion 31 of main leg panel 29 is of reduced width, and its side edgesmerge with the respective side edges 27 and 28 via gradually curvedshoulders 39.

, Foot panel 33 is of approximately the same width as main leg panel 29.Said main panel 33 for part of its length, has a substantially uniformwidth defined by parallel side edges 35, 36 which width is substantiallyequal to the width of the main portion of main leg panel 29. At itslower end, foot panel 33 terrninat esin a round too 37. i

Form or auxiliary leg panel 22 is also substantially rectangular inshape and has side edges 27' and. 28' de lining a main. portion 30 ofsubstantially uniform width. The top portion 3230f form 22 is of reducedwidth, and

its side edges merge with the respective side edges 27 and 28' viagradually curved shoulders 39.

The longitudinal length of main portion 30 of form 22 is less than thelength of the main portion of panel 29. The lower end of form 22terminates in a substantially straight transverse edge 38. Edge 38 isadapted to nest along the fold line 34 upon folding together leg andfoot panels 29, 33 of form 21 as clearly shown in Fig. 4. Side edges 27,35 of leg panel 29 and foot panel 33 are provided with outwardly curvedprojections 40, 41 disposed symmetrically about transverse fold line 34.Inwardly projecting notches 42 at the opposite ends of fold line 34facilitate folding of form 21. Notches 42 are provided with roundedcorners, such as 43, which merge with the side edges of leg andfootpanels 29, 33, shown best in Figs. 6 and 8. All corners of the forms arepreferably rounded to avoid sharp edges which might otherwise cut intoand shear socks 23, 24. The Width and overall length dimensions of form21 are preselected to be greater than the width and length of the sockin its normal unstretched condition. When sock 23 is circumferentiallymounted on form 21 in the manner described hereinafter, sock 23 issmoothly stretched lengthwise and widthwise and caused to conform to theshape of form 21.

Fig. 7 shows sock 24 of the pair in unstretched folded condition. Eachsock has a narrow Width elastic top 47, a leg portion 48, a foot portion49 terminating in a round toe and a heel 45. Sock 24 is folded along asubstantially transverse line 44 approximately midway its top and toeends in preparation for mounting same in display package 20. Transverseline 44 passes through heel 45 of sock 24.

Display package 20 may be assembled by laying folded sock 24 on legportion 29 of the unfolded form 21, as shown by dashed outline in Fig.6. It should be noted that the downwardly jutting lower end of heel 45of sock 24 is in proximity to fold line 34. The overall length of legpanel 29 is somewhat greater than the longitudinal length of folded sock24. Form 22 then may be laid upon folded sock 24. Top portions 31, 32 ofboth forms are at the same end. Transverse edge 38 of form 22 issubstantially alined with fold line 34. Edge 38 is adapted to nest inthe fold of form 21 as shown in Fig. 4. The other sock 23 of the pair iscircumferentially drawn over form 21, as indicated by the arrow in Fig.6. The superposed leg panels 29, 33 between which sock 24 is suspended,should be held together in neat, flat relationship as sock 23 is mountedover the flat assemblage. The faces of forms 21, 22 provide smoothslidable surfaces and facilitate pulling sock 23 up and over forms 21,22. It would be relatively more difficult to pull sock 23 directly oversock 24. The material of one sock would be then rubbing against theother. A neat, flat relationship wouldbe difiicult' to maintain undersuch circumstances, particularly if it is desired to assemble quicklythe display package. Forms 21, 22 retain sock 24 in fiat, even andfolded condition as sock 23 is being pulled up on form 21.

Fig. 5 shows sock 23 circumferentially stretched lengthwise andwidthwise over form 21, prior to folding the latter. The toe of sock 23engages round toe of form 21. Convex projections 40, 41 hold heel 45 ofsock 2 3 in stretched. condition and maintain heel 45in substantiallyneat, flat condition when the assemblage is folded. Elastic top 47 ofsock 23 engages top 31 of form 21 to retain sock 23 in lengthwisestretched condition on form 21.

It will be understood that the package also may be assembled by firstcircumferentially stretching-sock23 over the unfolded form 21 and theninserting the superposed sock 24 and form 22 into the open top47 ofstretched sock 23. When inserting the bodies, sock 24- is disposed tolie between the two leg panels 29,133. The faces of panels 29, 33contiguous with the socks provide smooth slidable surfaces facilitatinginsertion of the superposed bodies. In addition, forms 21, 2 2 maintainthe bodies in flat relationship, Sock 24 and form 22 will be forciblyinserted into sock 23 until the transverse edge 38 of form 22 is inproximity with fold line 34.

The unfolded assemblage shown in Fig. 5 is then folded along transverseline 34. The folded assemblage is secured together by suitable wrappingssuch as sticker 25 and band 26. Top sticker 25 is coated with adhesivematerial along its inner face and folded over the opposed faces of theassemblage. Sticker 25 also holds sock 23 in longitudinal stretchedcondition on the form. Bottom band 26 has a front face 50 and a flap 51.Flap 51 extends under the assemblage to overlie the lower portion of therear surface of the assemblage. Band 26 also has side flaps 52, 52 shownin dashed outline in Fig. 2. The side flaps 52 are drawn tightly aroundthe rear face of the assemblage. Band 26 is secured firmly by adhesivematerial along the inner surface of rear flap 51 attached to side flaps52, as shown in Fig. 2. Since band 26 is tightly wrapped about theassemblage, and because the side of the assemblage containing heel 45 isoutwardly inclined toward the lower end of assemblage, band 26 does notdrop off the assemblage. Band 26 serves to hide the bulge produced bythe folded heel 45 and cooperates with sticker 26 to maintain theassemblage in smooth parallel relationship.

Sales messages such as price, trade names, etc., may be printed onsticker 25 and band 26. Fig. 1 shows the fully packaged assemblage. Itwill be noted that the ornamental pattern of the sock is fully exposedfor view without distortion.

Leg panels 29, 22 and foot portion 33 are provided with rectangularcut-out windows 53, 54, 55. Windows 53, 54, 55 are disposedlongitudinally along respective form 21, 22 in such manner that thewindows substantially overlie when assemblage 20 is in flat foldedrelationship. Stretched sock 23 extends circumferentially over windows53, 54, 55. Folded sock 24 is suspended therebetween. This relationshipis best shown in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 4. For example, intracing the various crosssectional folds of Fig. 4 and starting from theleft-hand side, the first layer represents the front face of leg 48 ofsock 23. The next layer is leg panel 29 of form 21. The next four foldsrepresent the layers of folded sock 24. The next vertical body is theshort form 22 showing its lower edge 38 nesting in the fold 34 of form21. The following layer is the rear face of leg 48 of sock 23. The nextlayer is rear face of foot 49 of sock 23, which is followed by footpanel 33 of form 21, and finally at the extreme right, by the forwardface of foot 49 of sock 23. It will be observed that the faces of foot49 of sock 23 are joined and extend around the top of foot panel 33 ofform 21. This represents the toe of sock 23 extending over round toe 37of panel 33.

The assemblage is void of the relatively stiff cardboard material overthe area of windows 53, 54, 55. The consumer is able to test the textureof the socks by pressing or running the sock material between hisfingers over the window region. This allows the consumer to obtain atrue feeling of the material as he rubs the material between hisfingers. Although the embodiment shows cutout windows 53, 54, 55 on theforms it is understood that structure 20 may be modified so that onlycertain of the portions are provided with cut-outs. For example, package20 may be modified so that it possesses only one window either on legpanel 29 or foot panel 33. Another modification contemplates twowindows. The first will be on form 22 and the other on either leg panel29 or foot panel 33. In these instances, the test may be best performedby rubbing a finger along the sock over the cut-out area but only alongthe face of the sock adjacent the window. The disclosed embodimenthowever is preferred.

sisting of three panels 61, 62 and 63. Foot panel 61 is quite similar tothe foot panel 33 of form 21 of the first embodiment. Thus, the window55a of panel 61 corresponds to window 55 of the first embodiment. Theside edges 35a and 36a, the toe 37a, the fold line 34a, the notches 42aand the rounded corners 43a are similar to the corresponding parts ofthe first embodiment.

The sides edges 27a and 28a, window 53a and shoulders 39a and topportion 31 of main leg panel 62 are similar to the corresponding partsof panel 29 of the first embodiment.

Auxiliary leg panel 63 is joined to panel 62 along the transverse scoredfold line 64. Said panel 63 has side edges 65 and 66 defining a mainportion 67 of substantially uniform width. A bottom portion 68 ofreduced width projects downwardly from leg portion 60. The side edges 69and 70 of bottom portion 68 merge with the side edges 65 and 66 viagradually curved shoulders 71. Panel 63 has a rectangular window 72.

Inwardly projecting notches 73 at the opposite ends of fold line 64facilitate folding of panels 62 and 63. Said notches 73 are providedwith rounded corners, such as 74, which merge with the side edges of theportions 68 and 31, as shown best in Fig. 9.

Fig. 10 shows a step in assembly of the package corresponding to Fig. 6of the first embodiment. Fig. 10 shows the unstretched sock 24 placedupon main leg panel 62, similarly as in the first embodiment. However,since in the second embodiment the panels 62 and 63 are integral witheach other, it is merely necessary to fold auxiliary leg panel 63 alongthe transverse fold line 64 until panel 63 overlies sock 24 and panel62. As will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 10, panel 63 differsslightly in shape from form 22 of the first embodiment. Specifically,the width of the main portion 67 of panel 63 is slightly less than thewidth of the main portion 29a of panel 62. Also, the total length ofpanel 63 is slightly less than the total length of panel 62.

The connecting portions 68 and 31 of the two panels are of substantiallythe same size and shape, but the shoulders 71 of panel 63 are slightlyreduced in size as compared to the shoulders 39a of panel 62.Accordingly, in the second embodiment, except for the connectingportions 68 and 31, and for the shoulders 71, the panel 63 is locatedentirely inwardly of the periphery of panel 62. In particular, the endedge 75 of panel 63 is located slightly above the fold line 64.

The remainder of the assembly of the display package 20a according tothe second embodiment is substantially the same as in the firstembodiment. The other sock 23 of the pair is circumferentially drawnover panel 61 and over the registering panels 63 and 62 and sock 24, asindicated by the arrow in Fig. 10 and as shown in Fig. 11. The panels 62and 63 retain sock 24 in fiat, even and foldable condition as sock 23 isbeing pulled up upon form 60. The assembly time is reduced and the easeof assembly is increased by reason of the connection of panels 62 and 63along the fold line 64.

The unfolded assembly of Fig. 11 thus corresponds quite closely to theunfolded assembly of Fig. 5, except for the manner in which panel 63 issecured to panel 62.

Finally, the unfolded assembly of Fig. 11 is folded along the transverseline 34a and secured together by sticker 25a and band 261:,substantially as in the first embodiment, to form assembly 20a. Band 26acorresponds to band 26 and sticker 25a corresponds to sticker 25.

The rectangular cut-out windows 55a, 53a and 72 overly each other andare in substantial registration when assemblage 20a is in flat foldedrelationship. The registration of windows 72 and 53a is clearly shown inFig. 10. The registration of the three windows is also clearly shown inFig. 13. The relationship of the layers of Fig. 13 correspondssubstantially to that of Fig. 4, and will not be described in detail.

Since many changes could be made in the above con struction and manyapparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be madewithout departing firom the scope thereof, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

What is claimed is:

.1.;A display package for a pair of stretch socks com prising a footpanel, a main leg panel connected to said foot panel along a transversefold line, an auxiliary leg panel, said panels being made of stitt sheetmaterial, said main leg panel and said foot panel having together alength and width materially greater than the length and width of saidsocks in unstretched c ndition, a sock stretched widthwise andlengthwise on said main leg panel and said foot panel with said footpanel extending into the foot portion of said sock and with said mainleg panel extending into the leg portion of said sock and to the openend thereof, said main leg panel and said foot panel being sufficientlystifito withstand the contracting tension of said sock and to hold thesock in stretched condition, said main leg and foot panels being foldedabout said fold line into superposed relationship, said auxiliary legpanel being positioned between the other two panels and within the legportion of said sock and terminating short of the fold line between saidmain leg panel and said foot panel, a'second sock folded fiat andsuspended within the leg portion of the first sock and between thesuperposed leg panels, and means cooperating with said main leg paneland said-foot panel for hoiding same lengthwise in assembledrelationship.

2. A display package according to claim 1, said leg panels having mainportions of substantially rectangular shape and also having top portionsof reduced width projecting upwardly from the respective main portions,the width of said foot panel for part of its longitudinal length beingsubstantially uniform and approximately the same width as the mainportion of the main leg panel, the lower end of said foot panelterminating in a round toe, said auxiliary leg panel being shorter thansaid main leg panel, the toe of the first sock engaging the toe end ofsaid foot panel and the top of the first sock engaging a the reducedwidth portions of the leg panels to retain the References Cited in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,332,368 Wadsworth Mar. 2,1920 1,651,172 Youngblood Nov. 29, 1927 2,615,601 Kahn Oct. 28, 19522,742,149 Berry Apr. 17, 1956 2,748,930 Power et a1 June 5, 19562,755,924 Tuttle et al. July 24, 1956

